Succotash is a versatile vegetable side dish. This recipe can made the classic way with butter or a creamy version for extra richness.
Succotash is a vegetable dish with some interesting stories behind it. A quick Google search reveals that the word itself is of Algonquin origin. The most basic version of the dish is just corn and lima beans, cooked and seasoned most typically with butter.
In the south, it can be any combination of vegetables as long as it includes lima beans, and is often seasoned with bacon and/or bacon grease.
It was a popular dish during the depression because of the affordability of the ingredients. That most likely explains why it was served often at home when I was growing up.
My Mama was a child of the depression, and she was a firm believer in living as frugally as possible, whether by necessity, or just conviction. The version we had at home was simply baby lima beans and corn, seasoned with a little bacon grease and salt.
Many recipes in the south were born because of the need to use whatever was available. Read more about that here.
Classic succotash with a couple of updated tweaks
We kept pretty true to the traditional version with our recipe here. A couple of herbs add some extra dimension of flavor, and including grape tomatoes gave it a tangy twist and beautiful color.
If you like a creamy vegetable side dish it’s easy to make that happen with succotash. Right at the end, when the tomatoes are being added, stir in a little heavy cream and flour to thicken. Heat it just long enough to thicken the cream.
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Succotash - Classic & Creamy
Ingredients
- 2 cups baby lima beans
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1-1/2-2 cups whole kernel corn fresh or frozen
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved or quartered
- 1/2 cup heavy cream optional
- 1-2 Tablespoons Wondra Quick-Mixing Flour optional
Instructions
- Cook lima beans in salted, boiling water until tender, 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Melt 1 Tablespoons butter in a medium to large size skillet over medium heat. Add corn, thyme, sage and salt and sautee' 5-6 minutes or until corn is tender.
- Add lima beans, vinegar and tomatoes and heat thoroughly.
- If desired, stir in cream, flour and stir over medium-low to medium heat until cream is thickened.
Substitutions are easy
- Have fresh vegetables? That’s even better!
- Use full size tomatoes, diced into bite sized pieces.
- Like different herbs? Go for it!
- Canned corn can be used, but you would skip the 5-6 minute sautee’ step.
- Have more vegetables on hand? Add them. That’s what succotash is all about.
A word about the flour for thickening the creamy version
If all you have is all purpose flour you can use that. I would recommend stirring it into the cream before it goes in the succotash. But, we love, love, love our Wondra Quick-Mixing Flour for applications like this. You can just shake it out into your dish and it blends beautifully. Wondra Flour is also a key ingredient in our (nearly) world famous Shrimp and Grits. I always keep some on hand. You can order it by clicking here if you like.
Succotash is a great healthy Southern dish. If you’re looking for more, be sure to read our Review of Skinny Southern and then order your own copy.
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I have never heard of this, but I am always looking for new colourful side dishes. Definitely giving this a try!
Really? I guess it’s a southern thing, though, my research said it’s common in New England too. Hope you enjoy
I’ve never made this…but now I want to!!!
Hope you enjoy, Tawnie!
I have heard of succotash before but I have never tried it! Now I need to!!
You’re going to love it, Tisha!
I absolutely adore simple (and healthy) recipes like this. I’ve had something very similar before, but I never knew what it was called. Thank you!
Us, too. Thanks, Rae!
I have never heard of succotash but it looks and sounds like a great side dish. I think it would be great for a bbq. Definitely want to try it!
You’re going to just love it, Jacqueline!